Christmas, I remember as a kid, always used to be something really magical.

I remember the eager anticipation of Father Christmas to leave presents in my stockings on Christmas Eve. While we had all the family gifts under the tree, each of us also had a stocking hanging from the fireplace lintel. And somehow by the morning those we always full of small treats that simply must have come from Father Christmas himself!

Along with all the other traditions that we kept, it was a time of excitement and wonder.

And there was a tradition that if you had been bad through the year, instead of presents, you might just receive a lump of coal, or a bag of salt.

All of us kids would be secretly wondering and hoping for the best.

That bit of uncertainty added yet more magic and mystique to the whole event. It was not just a “given” that there would be heaps of presents on Christmas day - Santa really did check his list twice!

Isn’t that what Christmas should be about for children? Isn’t that why, in the famous response to Virginia’s letter, Francis Church said “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,”? He knew that the magic of Christmas was what mattered, and certainly didn’t want to spoil that.

So what happened to the Christmas spirit?

Now, instead of Christmas carols sung by lamplight at our door by volunteers collecting for charity, we have tinny xmas jingles (yes, Christ has even been removed from Christmas and replaced by X, an unknown quantity).

Instead the commercials just scream buy, buy, buy, as though spending more and getting more will make the season special. But all that produces is stress and debt.

Sure, there is a frantic unwrapping of presents, followed by… Nothing. No magic. No wonder. No Warm Fuzzies. Just a heap of wrapping paper, and a collection of toys, some of which met with approval, and many of which did not.

So, how about, this year, bringing some of that magic back for your children? You don’t have to spend a heap of money to make Christmas magical. All it takes is a bit of planning, and a bit of time. Here are some suggestions:

Look in your local paper and see if there is a Christmas show or other event you could all attend.

Go to a carols by candlelight service.

Or what about driving around our neighborhood and taking a vote on the house with the best Christmas decorations and illuminations?

Then set aside a whole afternoon to bake gingerbread cookies - or even a full gingerbread house. They will remember that for years to come - certainly longer than the latest battery operated toy.

If you live near snow - take some time off together and have a snowball fight, or go sledding, cross-country skiing, or even try and build an igloo. Above all remember just to have some simple FUN!

Turn off the TV and play a game together - maybe a board game or, if you really want a laugh, do something like charades, Pictionary or Cranium.

A great family tradition is, of course, the classic movies such as Miracle on 34th street, It’s a Wonderful Life, and even the modern Santa Clause series. Get out the popcorn, load up the drinks, and settle down for a fun evening.

Then, when it is time to open the presents, take your time. Do them one by one, so everyone can share in the joy of giving and receiving as each gets to see what everyone else gave and got. Then, after Christmas Dinner, take a walk together, or visit friends or relatives.

And, if you really must use your computer - well, why not have Santa Claus send your children a free, colorful email greeting from the North Pole? You can set that up at:

http://good-child-guide.com/email_from_santa/ (And you will get some free gifts for yourself too).

Bottom line? Take time to enjoy the season. Make an effort to do things that will lay down memories, and that will be magical for your kids. May you have a very merry Christmas.

Provided by ArticleGOLD: Articles Directory - Article Directory

One of the great benefits of the Christmas season is the wide variety of Christmas DVDs released to celebrate the season. There are new feature film DVDs released to provide family fun and entertainment and there are other DVDs released to help families get more out of the holiday season. One of this year’s best new Christmas DVDs is “Family Time with Santa.”

This multiple award winning countdown to Christmas DVD features twelve separate episodes for the entire family to watch. In addition to giving great learning lessons to children, the best part of this DVD is that it provides both entertainment and family fun time for the Christmas season. Each of the twelve episodes gives a six to nine minute nighttime activity for families to participate in together.

Each episode entertains with a depiction of fun activities presented by Santa, including: Firehouse, Taffy Factory, and a Boat Tale. While entertainment value is high, the major benefit of this collection is that it provides twelve nights of family fun and bonding. Children will enjoy the learning fun and Christmas cheer from Santa and his helpers, and parents will love the chance to expand Christmas into twelve nights of family time.

This great DVD collection has 15 different awards for Children’s Entertainment, Concept, Design Creativity and Originality, from various organizations. It is an extremely innovative way to countdown the days to Christmas.

The final days to Christmas are often an exciting and anxious time for young children. With the “Family Time with Santa” DVD, parents can give their children twelve nights of family fun and help ease some of the anxiety for Christmas morning, while at the same time building up the hopes and dreams of the little ones.

Another great benefit to parents with this DVD is that each episode begins by helping children go through their regular night time routines. Santa will help ease some of the pressure on parents during the busy Christmas season by ensuring that your children have completed their chores, brushed their teeth, and are ready for bed before he begins discussing that night’s hobby.

With all of the traditional Christmas options available to parents, very few offer the same great value gained from the “Family Time with Santa” DVD. Families will enjoy twelve exciting nights of Christmas fun with Santa and children will be blessed with lifetime memories with each night’s activities.

By: C A Mc Craw

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

CA McCraw writes for the www.MySantaSuit.com Network which has been servicing internet customers for 7 years now and taking pride in insuring the Customers Satisfaction. Grab the Hottest DVD Countdown to Christmas this year from the Ultimate Christmas Countdown!

Christmas season, for many the best holiday of the year. Who doesn’t like the celebrations, family gatherings, food, gifts and merriment of the season? Of course, all that merriment is the result of a lot of work on the part of some dear one who enjoys sharing the season as a holiday host. Is that you? Are you hosting a holiday party or planning the office Christmas party this year? Add some Christmas cheer to your holiday party with Christmas party games for the whole gang!

Christmas party games will get your gang talking, laughing and add fun to your next holiday celebration. Printable games will make your party planning easier, just print it and forget it. Choose it, print it, done! A quick and easy way to make sure your guest will have a great time at your Christmas gathering!

Hosting the holiday family get together this year? How about an assortment of children’s Christmas party games to keep them busy (and out of your hair!)? Kid’s Christmas party games like:

- Pin the Star on the Tree. The Christmas version of the all time favorite kids’ game!

- Christmas Lost & Found! The perfect game for kids who can’t read & those who can! Children match a game card to the matching picture on the “lost” items sheet. A Christmas game for kids of all ages!

- Kids Christmas Trivia. Just for the kids! Players will have fun trying to answer questions about Santa’s reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch and other children’s favorite holiday interests. A fun kids Christmas game sure to produce giggles!

For the young-at-heart, try these fun adult Christmas games:

- Name that Christmas Tune. You can sing the lyrics but can you name that tune?

- Christmas Pictionary & Charades! Two all time favorites designed just for Christmas fun!

- Famous Christmas Birthdays. We all know one historical person who was born on December 25th but there are lots of other famous people also born on Christmas Day! Given clues, who can name them all!

Hosting an all adult Christmas party? Spice it up with some adult Christmas party games! Some are naughty, some are nice and all will get your guests talking, laughing and in a festive mood:

- The Night before Christmas Game. An old story with a spicey twist! Who was doing what with whom on that certain night? Players are asked to answer a variety of questions. Little do they know their answers will become new words to this famous poem! The questions can be nice or naughty! A hilarious adult Christmas party game your guests will want to play every year!

Planning the office Christmas party? Need to entertain a wide age group with varied interest — no problem! These Office Christmas party games will keep everyone

- Christmas at the Movies! How many Christmas-themed movie’s can you name? A great game for playful competition!

- Date that Toy. Players try and match classic toys with the year it was introduced. You’d be surprised how many toys you’ll remember!

- Christmas Calculations. For the brainiacs in the bunch. Played in small groups who calculate these crazy holiday problems! A great game for teams. Which department will solve this Christmas riddle first?

- Ho, Ho, Ho, Who Do You Know? A great holiday party ice breaker! Each player is given a sheet with a list of holiday items such as ‘Has ridden in a horse drawn sleigh’ and ‘Born in December’ Players then go around the room trying to find a player to sign each item. A great way to get the group talking!

Organizing the school Christmas party for the kids? These Kids Christmas party games will keep the kiddies playing and laughing!

- Reindeer Mix Up. Santa has his reindeer’s names all mixed up! Who can un-mix this jumble of letters to come up with all the reindeer names A certain reindeer song will help the kids with this Christmas game!

- Santa’s Nose & Toes. Great for the littlest ones. Given these fun little word clues, who can figure out the names of these common parts of Santa Clause! Kids love this Christmas game!

Need a Christmas fund raiser for your civic group or organization? How about a Christmas raffle? Everyone loves the chance to win a raffle. Designate one or more prize winners per raffle and choose a charity for the proceeds.

No matter what Christmas party or holiday gathering you’re planning, Christmas party games will involve, entertain and add to the merriment of the celebration. Choose it, print it, done! Printable Christmas party games are your ticket to an easy and festive party!

By: Terri Hunziker

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Terri Hunziker founded GamesAndLetters.com, providing hundreds of print-and-play Christmas party games — Christmas party games, bridal shower games, baby shower games and more! For immediate access to hundreds of fun games and ideas for your next party, visit, www.gamesandletters.com

Christmas is the time of gifts. Every year new items appear that can be gifted. What about something simple and home made? Something like home made cookies that can be gifted? That will look unique and the recipient will be happy that you spent much time to prepare the gift. The gift was not simply picked up off the shelves and sent. Do you agree with me? Here is one idea.

Christmas brings lots of surprises and one that I am thinking of giving my family this year is a new sweet treat. Cookies, candies, fruit and nuts are the usual fare for Christmas, but I have decided to bake a new creation I just read about called SWIRLED TURTLE BROWNIES. I am sure that everyone in my family will enjoy these delights and I know that I will. You can use home baked sweets as a gifts, too.

You will need to preheat the oven to 325* and grease a 13×9-inch baking pan. In a small bowl, add 1 & 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, ¾ cup NESTLE TOLL HOUSE baking cocoa, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt. In a larger bowl, add ¾ cup softened butter, 1 & ½ cups packed brown sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and beat until creamy. Slowly add 2 large eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add the flour mixture from the small bowl to the creamy batch until mixed and then add the special ingredient, ¾ cup SWIRLDED Milk Chocolate & Caramel Morsels and if you like nuts, add ½ cup. Spread into prepared baking pan and sprinkle the remaining Swirled Morsels and the remaining nuts over the top. Spread the batter into the prepared greased pan. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes until toothpick inserted 2 inches from outer edge comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Drizzle with caramel sauce before cutting into squares. This recipe makes 20 brownies.

Once the SWIRLED TURTLE BROWNIES cool, they can be wrapped individually in colored saran wrap and tied with a colorful ribbon to give out as a gift. They would look really good in a basket with a colorful Christmas cloth napkin underneath the brownies. A good addition to the gift would be a nice big coffee cup and some packages of hot cocoa.

If this is going to be a gift for a personal friend, you might want to add a video of a classic Christmas story, a Christmas music CD, or new-holiday released novel. Depending on the size of the basket, you might want to add another personal item or two. One could be a small votive candle with a Christmas scent like sugar cookies, cinnamon, vanilla or some smell that reminds you of the holidays. Another one could be a small box of holiday note cards.

A favorite Christmas snack that is elegantly displayed in a pretty basket or even box can be a well received, loved sentimental present that will long be remembered. After baking and wrapping SWIRLED TURTLE BROWNIE, make sure to think of your recipient’s interests and try to choose small, unique, striking items to add to the gift basket. You can use a wide ribbon with wire in the edges to wrap around the basket and tie loosely to give it a final touch. Nothing is more appreciated when it is received than a well thought, hand made gift with personal items. A delicious baked surprise that is a new recipe is sure to be a hit for people who love sweet goods. Christmas sweets just seem to just scream, “Make me for the holidays and make everybody happy”.

Application of mind can help us create new things that will spread lots of joy during the festive time. The care that we take in selecting the gift is always appreciated and valued.

By:

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Social network users, click for myspace comments and myspace graphics. Add christmas myspace layouts to your profile.

The Christmas season brings with it more than just bright-colored leaves and frostbitten noses. It also brings people closer together, causing us to act more kindly to each other, react more peacefully to stress, and brings our families closer together than during any other time of the year. We’re much more thankful of the things that we have and of our loved ones. Opportunities abound here at the end of the year to do all sorts of things that the whole family can pitch in and enjoy, building lasting memories and strengthening the bond of family. It’s more than just baking and wrapping presents – the Christmas season brings an unlimited of ways you and your children can have fun and grow closer.

1. Anyone who’s done Christmas shopping in the past is sure to have seen those small, 2-3 foot tall Christmas trees they sell. They’re cheap and small enough for easy storage, and a perfect way to spruce up a child’s room. Buy one for your kid, and spend some time finding ornaments and decorations that fit their interests together! Does your daughter love pink? Go out with her and look for some pretty pink ornaments and lights, or just buy up one of those pink trees! Or maybe your son loves football. – You’re sure to be able to find football ornaments! Decorating one of those mini trees with your kid is a great way to bond in the Christmas season.

2. Christmas cookies are a must during the holiday season. It’s the time of year where you can bake as much as you like, and you can make beautiful, delicious treats for your whole family. This is the perfect time to include your kids! Get them involved in the festive art of baking, and instill in them the wonderful sense of tradition that it brings. Kids love to help their parents and to feel grown-up, so get them involved in the process. You can all make and decorate cakes and cookies, and if you want to take it further, get some tins and packages that you can decorate together to make gift-packages for friends! Pop in that Christmas music CD, light up a few candles, and turn that kitchen into a fun, safe playground!

3. Treats aren’t the only fun things to make during the holiday season. There are a variety of different fun crafts that can be made, from gingerbread houses, coloring pictures, ornaments, custom present packages, and more. Take a trip to your local craft store with your children and see what you can come up with. Homemade things are always more memorable than bought ones, and are much more fun to make! Involve the whole family in a night of craft making where you and your children can open up and discover that inner artist!

4. A lesser-known tradition that my family loves is the gag gifts. My family is quite large, but it can be done with any number of people. Here’s how it works: soon after Thanksgiving, have everyone write their name on small pieces of paper. Jumble the names in a hat, and have everyone draw out a name, making sure that no one gets their own name. The name a person draws is the person they have to buy a goofy, funny, or embarrassing gag gift for. You can choose if everyone should know who has drawn whom, or if you want to keep it a secret until Christmas Eve, when the gifts are specially delivered and opened! It’s a lot of fun, and is a great activity that can have a lot of thought put into it!

5. Make time to plan a few jolly-themed Christmas events that your whole family can enjoy. The goal here is simply to bask in the wonderful atmosphere of this season. Put on some Christmas music, turn down the lights and light up a few candles, turn out the Christmas cookies, candies and snacks, and just have a good time together. Watch a Christmas movie, or just have fun playing a few board games together.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays with the extensive cooking and shopping, but we can’t let ourselves forget what is important and what the time of Christmas really means. This is a great time to bring your family closer and start a few great new traditions that will be passed down for generations to come! Your children can enjoy this time of year like no other, and these will be memories that will stay with them forever.

By: Cole Carson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Cole Carson is a successful entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in the fields of business and marketing, health and wellness, and motivational topics. Dr. Earl Mindell spent eight years on Goji Juice. Learn what Goji Berry Juice is!

Christmas dinner in fancy dress costume is an ideal way to spice up the day. What clothes you wear on Christmas day is just as important to make your Christmas a special festive event - not only to be remembered for sentiment but for fun too. If you’re the family that in the past years has always dressed up for this occasion then how about dressing down. Every year nearly every one will cater for another person’s wants and needs before that of their own, hey listen up guys this is your Christmas too.

Christmas with a difference, have each family member dress up in fancy dress costume, by doing this you are adding fun to the day and most definitely giving reason for chat around the dining table, meaning, i.e. evading the dreaded silence that occurs from time to time. All those sat round the dinner table will love talking about how they came to select their particular costume and to why. Have a Christmas outfit party game where each person has to guess the reason why their brother or sister is dressed as Winnie the Pooh or Spiderman, no doubt the reasons given will have you all in the stitches.

If your decision is to make this Xmas different then you can implement a festive theme where family come dressed as Christmas characters. If you are the traditional sit down serious sort of person and feel change is not for you, fine, but did you ever consider another’s thoughts on the matter who may like to laugh and be jolly. If you decide against Christmas dinner in fancy dress costume, then at least have party hats and Christmas crackers filled with funny jokes for those looking to get into the festive spirit.

If dressing up is not how you wish to celebrate Christmas day then make changes to the feast table instead. Throw out the red table cloth you have repeatedly used over the years and replace with another colour. Lay the table different; add homemade edible party pieces i.e. biscuits/cakes decorated with funny faces in piped cream, label these yummies with each diners name. Just by changing habitual efforts will certainly have you pleased with yourself and more so that of others who craved for difference, but somehow felt uncomfortable to say.

Okay fair enough Christmas dinner in fancy dress costume may not be seen as entertainment in some folks eyes, however this should not deter you from splashing out on yourself, remember as stated earlier this is your Christmas too. This is more directed towards all mums who slave over a hot cooker to please and fill the bellies of all. Mum has to somehow juggle her work load to create a perfect Christmas dinner while under threat from gravy splashes on her outfit so therefore most of her day is spent enveloped in an apron to protect the clothes she wears; this is most uncomfortable especially when trying to avoid grease drips while basting the turkey. To remedy this is to dress later, have your outfit prepared and hanging in the wardrobe, a shift dress is ideal, so there is no time lost when slipping it on over your head. Your hair can be tied back for cooking and let loose for eating. If your hair is short - style with a bow or slide. Keep to wearing low comfortable shoes because pudding has to be served and dishes put away.

As the pots full of seasonable vegetables simmer away nip upstairs and coat the lips with a little lipstick, not much makeup is needed because you will always be beautiful in the yes of those sitting round the Christmas table waiting patiently to be fed.
It makes sense for fewer cosmetics at this time because of steaming veg and smoke from burnt turkey,” heaven forbid”. Plan ahead, take things slow and by doing this you can have the perfect Christmas day, however if in your household burnt offerings is always on the menu then you can consider eating out.
When it comes down to making changes it is true that old habits die hard, but if change involves filling the air with fun and laughter then ignore tradition.

By: kacycarr